At the start of every season, the fans are optimistic, always clinging on to hope that one day a team from this proud city will win a championship.

We crave a championship.

I've never seen a Cleveland title and would preferably like to witness one in my lifetime.

On Wednesday, for the first time, I was completely discouraged.

To discourage a Cleveland sports fan is nearly impossible. We've been through it all, except for winning.

The quote, “Waiting for next year,” applies to Cleveland sports. And quite frankly, I'm exhausted by it.

We are in the third week of the NFL season and we are already discussing the draft. Who's it going to be – Teddy Bridgewater, Tajh Boyd or Johnny Manziel?

Just two weeks ago, I was excited about the season. I went to the Browns-Ravens game last week in Baltimore and had a blast.

Three days later, the Browns assign their third-string quarterback to start Sunday's game, then they trade their franchise running back, Trent Richardson, to the Indianapolis Colts.

That's their No. 3 overall draft pick from last year, yes 2012, gone for what likely will be a late first-round selection next year.

So what the Browns management is telling us, thanks for supporting us, but here's some dead squid for you to chew on.

Yuck.

But why so soon?

We are stuck with a really bad football team for 14 more weeks. There's still 227 days until May's NFL draft.

Since 1999, when the Browns returned to Cleveland, they have had one winning season. As a matter of fact, the Baltimore Ravens, the team that took the Browns away, has more Super Bowl titles than the Browns have winning seasons.

During that span, they've had 19 different starting quarterbacks.

Despite the hardships, I'm still proud to admit that I am a card-carrying member of the Cleveland sports fan club. The membership includes false hope, a bit of optimism, a dash of pessimism and a lifetime of losing franchises.

We believe that LeBron James will return to Cleveland following the 2014 NBA season and lead his home-state Cavaliers to a championship. We realize the Cleveland Indians are in Wild Card contention, but that won't last.

But it doesn't matter how many more gut-wrenching debacles we endure, I'm not planning on jumping ship anytime soon.

The Browns move to Baltimore, the Drive, the Fumble, Game 7 of the 2007 World Series, The Decision are just a few heartaches Cleveland fans have suffered through. We've traded away two Cy Young pitchers and have a long history of making poor decisions in drafts.

We want nothing more than a championship.

Page 2 of 2 - Win, lose or draw, I am still on board. You won't see me becoming a bandwagon fan and cheering on the L.A. Lakers, Miami Heat, Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees, like a lot of people I've met.

It was 1964, the last time Cleveland won a title. Jim Brown was the running back for the Browns. The Indians last won a World Series in 1948 and the Cavaliers have never won the NBA Finals.

Being a Cleveland sports fan is the most frustrating thing in sports. I can't think of another fan base that's gone through this much suffering.

But in the end, I just tell myself that it's only sports.

There's more important issues out there.

Thanks to our military for their service and fighting for our freedom so that we can enjoy athletics.

Adam Thompson can be contacted at 252-635-5669 or at Adam.Thompson@newbernsj.com. Follow Adam on Twitter @Adam_matic.